Resources for Health Care Providers

Photo of smiling doctor

Every health care provider can play a critical role in helping end this pandemic. Find resources below, and let us know if you have questions. 

Provider Advisories Isolation and Quarantine
Treatments Additional Resources
Testing Vaccines

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Provider Advisories

Public Health issues time-sensitive public health updates to health care providers. See the most recent advisories below. 

Sign Up to Receive Provider Advisories

3-24-2023-Xylazine-Update-for-Healthcare-Providers Xylazine Alert for Health Professionals
03-10-2023-Local-Guidance-Announcement-Settings-at-High-Risk-of-COVID-19-Transmission New local guidance summarizes requirements, recommendations and best practices for settings at high risk for transmission of COVID-19.
02-28-2023 SLO County Pharmacies to Be Offered Health Education Materials from Public Health Public Health staff will be distributing flyers about immunizations and COVID-19 treatment to pharmacies in early March.
02-24-2023-Increase-in-Extensively-Drug-Resistant-Shigellosis-in-the-United-States CDC Health Alert: Increase in Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis in the United States
02-15-2023-COCA-Call-Evaluating-and-Supporting-Children-and-Adolescents-Presenting-with-Post-COVID-C Upcoming CDC COCA Call: Evaluating and Supporting Children and Adolescents Presenting with Post-COVID Conditions

View All Provider Advisories

California Health Alert Network (CAHAN)

CAHAN is California’s web-based information and communications system for distributing health alerts, disseminating treatment and guidelines, coordinating disease investigation efforts, preparedness planning, and other initiatives that strengthen state and local preparedness.

Visit website

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COVID-19 Treatments

Many patients with COVID-19 can recover at home without prescription treatment. But for some people who have certain health conditions or who are aged 50 and older, prescription treatment may be an important help.

Currently, health care providers in SLO County are encouraged to prescribe treatment of SARS-CoV-2 for any eligible individual (patients infected with COVID-19 of ages 50+ or any age with health conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19). As of February 1, the FDA updated their EUAs of Paxlovid and Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) to remove the requirement for a positive SARS-CoV-2 test to reduce barriers for timely prescribing and dispensing of COVID-19 treatment. 

Treatment within the first 24-48 hours of symptom onset is ideal.  Encourage your patients to test for COVID-19 early (at the first symptoms) and five days after a known exposure or large gathering. 

See COVID-19 Treatments

NIH has released treatment guidelines for the therapeutic management of nonhospitalized adults with COVID-19. It includes several options:

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets), is the #1 recommended treatment right now. Studies show it’s highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death when started early. It is in ample supply at multiple pharmacies across SLO County and through Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC). See a list of pharmacies at slopublichealth.org/treatment.  See the FDA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. Or, see the Paxlovid Eligibility and Effectiveness Information Sheet.

 

Lagevrio (molnupiravir capsules) has received emergency use authorization for people at high risk for severe illness for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. See the FDA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. Or, see the Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) Eligibility and Effectiveness Information Sheet .

Monoclonal Antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight viruses. Currently, there are no monoclonal antibodies authorized for use in the U.S. as treatment for COVID-19 because they are not effective against currently-circulating variants.

Remdesivir is the only COVID-19 medication treatment option for individuals less than 12 years of age. This intravenous medication is currently in adequate supply, and health care providers may order it directly from an authorized distributor. In addition to hospital settings, it may now be provided in skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare settings and outpatient facilities such as infusion centers. The Public Health Department can provide technical assistance to providers who wish to begin administering this medication to outpatients.  

In the event of logistical constraints or low treatment supply, providers may follow guidelines from the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines for Patient Prioritization for nonhospitalized patients.

 

Questions about prescribing treatment?

COVID-19 Therapeutics Warmline:

  • California health care providers can now call (866) 268-4322 (COVID-CA) to receive free, real-time, confidential consultation on COVID-19 testing and treatment. Available Monday – Friday, 6 am – 5 pm; managed by the UCSF National Clinician Consultation Center.

 

Where to find COVID-19 treatments locally: 

 

For more information about treatments: 

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COVID-19 Testing

Rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 are available to patients at local pharmacies, with health plans now required to cover the costs.  

COVID-19 Testing for Medical Providers. Please use the COVID-19 Testing Referral Form to request testing for medical providers in SLO County. 

Outbreak Response Testing and Other Testing Support. For consultation regarding response to an outbreak, please contact [email protected] or call 805-781-5500. For questions regarding testing support and supplies, please contact [email protected].
Find COVID-19 Testing 

Reporting

Please use the COVID-19 Confidential Morbidity Report to report a case of COVID-19. 

Report a COVID-19 Case

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Isolation and Quarantine

Providers may refer to isolation and quarantine guidance when advising patients on their isolation and quarantine requirements and duration.

See Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

You can also refer patients to the COVID-19 Navigator, which can help guide them through their next steps.

Use COVID-19 Navigator

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Additional Resources for You and Your Patients

Print Resources for Your Practice

Below are some print resources to communicate information about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Below you will find ready-to-use resources that can be shared with the populations you work with. Not seeing the information that you need?  Contact us and let us know!

Face masks signs

English |Spanish

 

Photo of keep your distance sign

Keep your distance signs

English | Spanish

Vaccine timing chart

English | Spanish

Photo of vaccine poster

Vaccine Posters

English | Spanish

Photo of brochures

Brochures

See brochures here.

 

Photo of surgeon general toolkit

Surgeon General's

Toolkit on Misinformation

View the toolkit

 

 

More Resources

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Vaccines

Vaccines continue to be the best line of defense against infection with COVID-19.  Fully-vaccinated and boosted patients have significantly less risk of complications and death.  

COVID-19 vaccine schedule. See the COVID-19 vaccine schedule timing by age from Vaccinate All 58.

Schedule and doses for immune compromised patients. The vaccination schedule for certain immunocompromised patients (see list of medical conditions) includes several different intervals.

Public Health clinics are available to provide the additional vaccine doses recommended for immune compromised patients if they have trouble accessing additional doses at local pharmacies.   

CDC has also provided new guidelines for mRNA vaccination of boys and men ages 12-39.  To stay current on updated vaccination guidelines, see the CDC's Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of Covid-19 Vaccines

Age transitions and interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescents. CDC offers guidance surrounding dosing and scheduling COVID-19 vaccines for children and adolescents in special situations.

More Vaccine Resources: